HealthPartners - Taking care of you and your newborn

Newborn Feeding Patterns

DAY 1: FIRST 24 HOURS | BIRTHDAY NAP

Wet Diapers per day

Dirty Diapers per day

Babies are usually awake and alert for 1-2 hours after birth. Then, they often sleep for many hours. Watch for feeding cues and offer the chance to breastfeed at least 8 times today. Gently rub your baby’s legs, feet, and back if needed to keep them awake and feeding. Babies are resting from birth, so they eat less often in the first 24 hours. You’ll want lots of supervised skin-to-skin contact on baby’s first day! Babies usually start to show more feeding cues and eat more often on day 2. Your baby may go through a “marathon” nursing phase. This means they may feed many times close together. This is completely normal. Keep your baby with you and allow your baby to feed as often as they desire. If your baby falls asleep, you may have a little break from nursing. If you put them down, they may wake up and nurse again. Not because they are hungry, but because sucking is comforting to them.

At least 1

At least 1

Black stool (meconium)

DAY 2: 24 TO 48 HOURS | LEARNING DAY

Wet Diapers per day

Dirty Diapers per day

At least 2

At least 2

Black or dark green stool

DAY 3: 48 TO 72 HOURS | ALL DAY BUFFET

Wet Diapers per day

Dirty Diapers per day

Babies usually want to “cluster feed” on day 3. You’ll want to keep your baby skin-to-skin to make breastfeeding easy. Watch for feeding cues and respond to them. Your baby may continue with the cluster feedings, then start to ease off as your milk supply increases.

At least 3

At least 3

Brown, green, or yellow stool

DAY 4 AND 5: 72 TO 120 HOURS | NIGHT OWL

Wet Diapers per day

Dirty Diapers per day

Your milk supply will increase and your baby will be eating more at each feeding. You should hear swallowing and even gulping by this time. You may notice your baby becomes satisfied and drifts off to sleep after feeding. It’s normal if your baby sleeps more during the day and is awake more at night. Your baby will be eating at least 8 times in 24 hours and may even eat as often as 10-12 times in 24 hours. Your baby will start to gain weight. Your baby will also be having more wet and dirty diapers.

At least 4-5

At least 4-5

Yellow, loose, and seedy stool

It is normal for babies to pass stool every time you feed them, or even more often.

38 Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care